Generation Kill (TV series)

Infobox Television Film
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name = Generation Kill


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format = War miniseries
runtime = approx. 68 min. (per episode)
creator = Series:
David Simon, Ed Burns
Book:
Evan Wright
director = Susanna White
Simon Cellan Jones
Patrick Norris
producer =
writer = David Simon
Ed Burns
Evan Wright
starring = Alexander Skarsgård
James Ransone
Stark Sands
Lee Tergesen
Jon Huertas
Jonah Lotan
Rudy Reyes
Billy Lush
Chance Kelly
Eric Nenninger
Michael Kelly
Owain Yeoman
Marc Menchaca
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"Generation Kill" is a 2008 HBO television miniseries based on the book of the same name by Evan Wright, and adapted for television by David Simon, Ed Burns, and Wright. The series premiered on July 13, 2008 and spanned seven episodes. It is produced by Simon, Burns, Nina K. Noble, Andrea Calderwood, George Faber, and Charles Pattinson.

Production

The cable channel HBO greenlit a seven-hour miniseries, based on Evan Wright's book about his experiences as an embedded reporter with the United States Marine Corps' 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the Iraq war's first phase in 2003.

Crew

David Simon and Ed Burns ("The Wire") co-wrote and executive produced the project alongside Company Pictures' George Faber and Charles Pattinson ("Elizabeth I") and HBO's Anne Thomopoulos ("Rome"). The miniseries was shot as seven one-hour installments over a six-month shoot in the summer of 2007 in Namibia, Mozambique, and South Africa. Andrea Calderwood ("The Last King of Scotland") is producing; Nina Noble ("The Wire") served as co-executive producer. Author Evan Wright was credited as a consulting producer. Marine Eric Kocher served as the series Key Military Advisor. Susanna White, Simon Cellan Jones, and Patrick Norris directed episodes of the series.cite web
title = HBO drafts cast for 'Kill' mini
publisher = The Hollywood Reporter
accessdate = 06/01/2007
url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i10d8acfd8966c363df89ead3d214f518#TheWireHBO]

Cast and characters

There are 28 starring cast members with a large supporting cast. The majority of the characters are drawn from the Second Platoon of the First Reconnaissance Battalion's Bravo Company. Lee Tergesen plays embedded reporter Evan Wright. Wright is assigned to the lead vehicle of Bravo Company, which he shares with Sergeant Brad 'Iceman' Colbert, played by Alexander Skarsgård, Corporal Josh Ray Person, played by James Ransone, and Lance Corporal Harold James Trombley, played by Billy Lush. Other second platoon starring characters include: First Lieutenant Nathaniel Fick, played by Stark Sands; Sergeant Antonio 'Poke' Espera played by Jon Huertas; Hospital Corpsman Second Class Robert Timothy 'Doc' Bryan played by Jonah Lotan; Corporal Evan 'Q-Tip' Stafford played by Wilson Bethel; Corporal Walt Hasser played by Pawel Szajda; Gunnery Sergeant Mike 'Gunny' Wynn played by Marc Menchaca; Corporal Gabriel 'Gabe' Garza played by Rey Valentin; Corporal Jason Lilley played by Kellan Lutz; Sergeant Leandro "Shady B" Batista played by Mike Figueroa; Sergeant Larry Shawn 'Pappy' Patrick played by Josh Barrett; Sergeant Rudy Reyes portrays himself; Corporal Anthony 'Manimal' Jacks played by Rich McDonald; and Corporal James Chaffin played by Eric Ladin.

The First Reconnaissance Battalion is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen 'Godfather' Ferrando, played by Chance Kelly. Bravo Company as a whole falls under the command of Captain Craig 'Encino Man' Schwetje played by Brian Patrick Wade. Bravo Company's third platoon is commanded by the erratic Captain Dave 'Captain America' McGraw played by Eric Nenninger. The battalion's Sergeant Major, John Sixta, is played by Neal Jones. Alpha company is commanded by Captain Bryan Patterson, played by Michael Kelly. David Barrera plays Gunnery Sergeant Ray 'Casey Kasem' Griego, Bravo Company's operations chief. Benjamin Busch portrays Major Todd Eckloff, the executive officer of the battallion.

Other starring cast members include Owain Yeoman as Sergeant Eric Kocher, a long-suffering team-leader under the command of Captain America. J. Salome Martinez Jr. as Corporal Jeffrey 'Dirty Earl' Carazales. Nabil Elouahabi as the battallion translator Meesh. Finally Robert John Burke portrays Major General James "Mad Dog" Mattis who is Ferrando's superior.

Episodes

Music

The series has a large collection of music, most of which is sung by main characters, but others are sung by the actual artists.

Episode 1:
* "Merry Christmas from the Family" by Robert Earl Keen
* "Sk8ter boi" by Avril Lavigne
* "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton

Episode 2:
* "Beyoglu" by DJ Kambo
* "The Marines' Hymn" Traditional
* "Smoke Signals" by Dada Flair
* "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne
* "Bodies" by Drowning Pool
* "Boyz-n-the-Hood" by Eazy-E
* "Hot in Herre" by Nelly

Episode 3:
* "Hot in Herre" by Nelly
* "Tainted Love" by Ed Cobb

Episode 4:
* "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die" by Joe McDonald
* "Attahaddiat" by Kadhum Al Sahir
* "Entaha Almeshwar" by Kadhum Al Sahir
* "Copenhagen Song" by Josh Person
* "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus

Episode 5:
* "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson
* " Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot
* "Gangsta Gangsta" by N.W.A.

Episode 6:
* "It Ain't Easy" by Tupac Shakur
* "Fuck tha Police" by N.W.A.
* "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Ed Bruce
* "Can I Kick It?" by A Tribe Called Quest
* "Cesaro Summability" by Tool (used as a sample at 29.51)

Episode 7:
* "9 to 5" by Sheena Easton
* "Come Sail Away" by Styx
* "King of the Road" by Roger Miller
* "The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash

External links

* [http://www.hbo.com/generationkill Official HBO Generation Kill Website]
*imdb title|id=0995832|title=Generation Kill
* [http://www.utne.com/2008-07-10/Arts/UtneCast-Generation-Kill-Director-Susanna-White.aspx?blogid=32 Interview with Director Susanna White] on Utne Reader

References